Sometimes I wonder; do I even make a difference? My husband and I have been in youth ministry for about 6 years now….well even longer than that, because we helped out before we actually took over as youth pastors. In any event, a lot of kids have crossed our paths. We have been cussed out, punched, talked about, hugged, kicked, spit on, complained about, confided to, praised, and everything in between.
So when we hear about kids who crossed our paths; kids who we ministered to and now are in jail, it breaks our hearts. When we have one who we basically helped raise, welcomed him in our home, loved him as one of our own and then he tells us his life is “taking a different direction and you just don’t fit anymore” that breaks our hearts. When we try to talk to those who are now adults and they just don’t want to hear it anymore; they are “self sufficient” it breaks our hearts. We love all of them as though they are our own. Before we went into youth ministry I was prophesied over and told that I would be a “mother to many”. I guess that is so.
You get to the point you wonder if anything you do makes a difference at all. Is it worth it? These kids still seem to be doing the same things; they still live in the world no matter what we say.
But then you have one call you when they graduate seminary and are going into ministry. You have one talk to you and say something like “I remember that message you did on…..” and you realize it stuck! You have one call you and ask you to sing at her wedding; sing at one of the biggest events of her life. Yeah, I guess we do make a difference. You have one tell you they know that because of a message you did, they are being called to be a missionary.
Jesus was persecuted for spreading the gospel. So it will be for us. Jesus tried to 
tell everyone the Kingdom of God was near and some closed their ears. Jesus said "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
If He had people reject Him, then I certainly will have it. I guess until I reach the gates of Heaven, I will not know the difference I have made in someone’s life. I guess I will not know the ripples that I have caused. Until then, when I gave my life to Christ, I gave it to Him forever and no matter what happens and how downtrodden I may feel, I will keep telling youth (and everyone) that He loves them…. Just a thought…
